If I’m Not a “Preacher,” Can I Still Be a Missionary?

Opportunities in Missions You May Have Not Thought Possible!

There seems to be a misconception that God can’t use people in missions if they are not gifted in teaching or preaching, or don’t have a Bible college education. My wife and I almost fell prey to that way of thinking years ago. We were in our mid-thirties, had two children, and were living comfortably in southern Ontario. I had been employed as a graphic artist with a printing company for twelve years.

We were members of a great church and served in various capacities over a period of eight years. Our church was — and still is — a mission- minded church, supporting missionaries serving with various organizations. We were familiar with the work of NCEM, having had representatives of the Mission visit our church. We were also on the Northern Lights mailing list.

In 1984, through a series of health and employment related events, my wife and I began to earnestly seek the Lord’s will for our future. In the summer of 1985 we received the July-August issue of the Northern Lights. As I read through the magazine, an article on page 15 caught my attention. It read: “LOOKING FOR A JOB WITH REAL PURPOSE? — NCEM has 29 openings for people who love the Lord and desire to serve Him.”

The article went on to describe three areas of need: the first was for pioneer missionaries to begin church-planting and discipleship ministries in 26 Native settlements; the second was for secretarial staff; and the third area of need was for someone to do design, paste-up and other duties in NCEM’s Printing Department.

The need for Printshop help really interested me, since I had been working in the industry for many years. Could the Lord possibly use my abilities in graphic arts to help build His Church? As Lorrayne and I discussed the article, we came to the conclusion that, no, since we didn’t have Bible college training, we could not possibly be accepted for missionary service.

A few weeks later, while sorting through some magazines, I came across the Northern Lights. It was still open at page 15! Was this just coincidence, or was the Lord trying to tell us something? Lorrayne and I had been praying for direction for almost a year. Perhaps the Lord was opening a door of opportunity for us.

We agreed that some form of action should be taken to confirm if this was indeed from the Lord. We decided to send a letter of introduction and a resume to NCEM Headquarters. We didn’t really expect anything more than a polite response thanking us for the letter.

Much to our surprise, we were contacted by NCEM a couple weeks later. We were delighted to hear that NCEM does accept candidates without Bible college training for some support ministry roles. We were eventually accepted as missionaries with NCEM, and moved to Prince Albert in 1986.

We thank God for calling us to serve with NCEM. For five years I used my graphic arts experience to help produce literature used to advance God’s kingdom. Since then I earned a Bible college diploma and it has been our privilege to serve the Lord in a number of other ministry roles with the Mission.

Although NCEM’s primary need for workers continues to be “field” missionaries, there is also a need for “support” missionaries. Age does not have to be a barrier to missionary service. There are a growing number of Christians in the secular workplace who are opting for early retirement, and joining mission organizations.

Yes, within NCEM there are those called to “preach” and “teach.” They have trained for ministry and are serving in First Nations communities or in discipleship centres such as Key-Way-Tin Bible Institute. But like these front-line workers, God has just as surely called some support missionaries.

Do you love the Lord and have a desire to serve Him in missions? Please feel free to write or call NCEM to explore short-term or career possibilities.

Adapted from our Northern Lights magazine (Issue #479). Note: some of the locations and involvements of our missionaries may have changed since the original publishing of this article.